conference assembled, Tewfik Pasha kept the Ambassadors waiting a long
time for him, and, when he at last appeared, laid a new frontier plan
before the diplomats.

To their surprise, they found that the frontier demanded was mapped out
in direct opposition to their wishes.

They one and all declined to discuss it, and informed Tewfik that they
would adjourn until he brought a written acceptance of the frontier as
they had designated it, and the meeting broke up with unpleasant feeling
on both sides.

The military experts who had arranged the frontier line had appointed
the day after this stormy interview to meet the Turkish frontier
commission.

They waited and waited, but the Turks did not put in an appearance.

They then went over and reported the fact to the Ambassadors, who had
met together in the council room--in the hope that Tewfik would come
with the written acceptance.

The hours went by and brought no Tewfik.

The Ambassadors went to the Austrian embassy to talk the matter over and
decide what course they should pursue. They had hardly reached the place
before the Pasha appeared. He said that the Sultan, his master, had
detained him and the military commission, discussing the situation, and
added that the Sultan had decided to appoint two of the military
delegates to discuss the peace negotiations in his (Tewfik's) place.